Agricultural Sciences

Agriculture irrigation

Bachelor of Applied Science in Agricultural Sciences

The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Agricultural Sciences (BASAG) at YVC is designed for prospective students who have earned an associate’s degree and seek a pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

The BASAG degree is designed for students at the beginning of their careers who are interested in a four-year degree and for working adults who want to advance in their careers. More information on career exploration and compensation.

Degree information

The pathway emphasizes leadership, management, and communication in the agricultural industry while developing broad skills in finance, strategic operations, harvest technology, soil health, plant physiology, pest management, and more.

The degree caters to working adults with industry experience. Some classes will be fully online, while lab-based classes meet in the evenings up to two times per week. Continued instruction and student interaction take place online. Full-time students, those taking 15 credits per quarter, can finish the program in two years once prerequisites have been met.

Program information

Upon successful completion of this program the student should be able to:

  • Design a business plan and various industry Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Practice communication and ethical leadership skills for the diverse Agribusiness workplace, including appropriate communication with internal and external groups, and managing conflict.
  • Sustainably manage business operations (including record keeping for compliance, labor, and safety) and resources (supplies, water, time, people, and crops) of the agricultural system.
  • Evaluate the important processes that are a part of running an agriculture business, including recruitment and management of employees, design and process efficiency of equipment for employee and food safety, customer satisfaction of the final product, and the implementation of new technologies.
  • Collect and critically evaluate data related to production and quality, financial statements, market trends, and research for the Agribusiness sector.
  • Implement safety measures for personnel and food products, including state, federal, and international food safety and compliance programs.

The BASAG degree is awarded upon completion of all required courses with a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.0. The curriculum will give students a strong practical foundation in the following areas of management:

  • Organizational Planning
  • Professional Communications
  • Operations & Management
  • Evaluation of Personnel, Processes, and Products
  • Data Collection and Analysis
  • Employee and Food Safety

First Year

Fall Quarter
AGSCI 213 – Integrated Pest Management (5)
AGSCI 322 –  Harvest Technologies (5)
AGECN 310 – Agriculture Business Management (5)
Winter Quarter
AGSCI 370  – Food Safety and Quality (5)
SOCSCI 320 – Organizational Behavior and Leadership (5)
CHEM& 121 – Intro to Chemistry w/Lab (5)
Spring  Quarter
AGSCI 301 – Sustaining Soil Health (5)
AGSCI 413 – Applied Integrated Pest Management I (4)
MATH& 146 – Statistics (5)

Second Year

Summer Year 2
AGSCI 414 – Applied Integrated Pest Management II (2)
AGSCI 490 – Applied Work Experience (4)
Fall Quarter
AGSCI 430 – Precision Agriculture (5)
CMST 330 – Organizational Communication (5)
NS/HUM/SS – Elective (Varies)
Winter Quarter
AGECN 410 – Financial Agribusiness Management (5)
BASM 375 – Applied Principles of Leadership (5)
BASM 435 – Operations Management (5)
Spring  Quarter
AGSCI 460 – Physiology of Fruit Development (5)
AGSCI 499 – Agriculture Capstone (5)
NS/HUM/SS – Elective (5)

***Course schedule and curriculum is subject to change***

Students from the BAS in Agricultural Sciences program will be prepared for careers in many occupations including:

  • First-Line Supervisors in Farming Operations
  • Pest Management
  • Post-harvest Agricultural Managers
  • Agricultural Manager
  • Agricultural Inspectors

More information on the employment trends.

Program admission

All eligibility requirements must be completed by the end of the spring quarter. If a student is completing any of the requirements during the summer quarter, they can still apply however, the application will be wait-listed until after the summer quarter.

  1. Hold an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
    • The following AAS Degrees feed into the BASAG Program and satisfy most of the minimum program eligibility requirements:
      1. AAS and AAS-T in Agribusiness
      2. AAS in Production/Pest Management
      3. AAS and AAS-T in Vineyard Technology
      4. AAS in Winery Technology
    • If you have completed 90 or more college-level credits without a degree please contact the BASAG Coordinator to determine eligibility at BASAG@yvcc.edu or 509.834.4522.
  2. Minimum cumulative college-level GPA of 2.0
  3. Industry Work Experience
  4. Must be eligible to register for MATH& 146
  5. Complete the following courses with a C (2.0) or better:
    • AGSCI 101/BIOL 107
    • AGECN 210 OR ACCT& 201
    • AGSCI 201
    • CHEM& 100
    • ENGL& 101
    • Communications (5 credits)
    • Humanities (5 credits)
    • Social Sciences (5 credits)
  6. Priority consideration will be given to students who have completed the following courses. These courses must be completed with a C (2.0) or better prior to earning the bachelor’s degree and can be included in the associate’s degree or during the bachelor program (in addition to the required courses):
    • AGECN 201 OR ECON 101 OR ECON 201
    • Communications (5 credits)
    • Humanities (5 credits)
    • Social Sciences (5 credits)

Step 1: Apply to Yakima Valley College

  • Complete the online YVC Application. There is a $30 non-refundable application fee. Students do not need to complete the YVC application if they have been a student within the last twelve months.
  • Apply for FAFSA/WASFA, if you intend to use financial aid.
  • Send all official transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities to YVC admissions for evaluation if applicable.  Current YVC students who have submitted transcripts recently do not need to resubmit.

YVC Admissions
Yakima Valley College
PO BOX 22520
Yakima, WA 98907-2520

Step 2: Apply to the Program

The BASAG program is a selective admissions program. Applications are accepted on an annual basis from March 1 – May 31. Do not submit BASAG program applications before March 1.

  • Applicants are ranked according to a rubric based on required admission criteria
  • Industry experience in an agricultural-related field will be evaluated based on years of experience

Complete Application

Complete and submit the BASAG Application. The application is free.

Apply Here

Step 3: Wait for Notification

Applications are reviewed in June.  Students can expect a notification from the BASAG program toward the end of June or early July.

If you are accepted, plan on attending a mandatory advising appointment in July and an orientation session the week before fall quarter classes begin.  Instructions will be sent with the program notification.

Step 4: Final Admission Decision

Applicants will be awarded points on the following criteria:

  • Completion of an associate’s degree
    • Additional points if the degree is Agriculture related
      • AAS and AAS-T in Agribusiness
      • AAS in Production/Pest Management
      • AAS and AAS-T in Vineyard Technology
      • AAS in Winery Technology
  • GPA (higher GPA, increases points awarded).
  • Industry Work Experience
  • Additional points awarded for completion of any, or all of the course options are below:
      • AGSCI 110: Irrigation Principles
      • AGSCI 213: Integrated Pest Mgmt.
      • CHEM 121: Intro to Chemistry w/Lab
      • MATH 146: Statistics
      • Preferred* NS/HUM/SS elective

Students in the Bachelor of Applied Science program pay upper-division tuition fees. Tuition is set by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges which acts upon legislative authority. Rates are subject to change.

A full description of tuition and fees can be found on the Financial Aid website. You can also locate information on how to apply for grants and scholarships to pay for college.

Advising

Students interested in the Bachelor of Applied Science program are encouraged to meet and maintain contact with a college counselor/advisor to explore career options.

Program Contact

BASAG Program CoordinatorPete Hernandez
Yakima Campus
Deccio, Building 08, Room 267
Phone: 509.834.4513
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